A.—7

24

3. Any person desiring an advance should make a written application on the form provided for the purpose, a copy of which can be obtained from any Postmaster in the Dominion, who will give the applicant any explanation which may be required respecting the filling-in of the form. No professional assistance is necessary, and no charge is authorized for the filling-in of the application form, 'flu; department has no agents authorized to act on. its behalf in this respect. 4. No procuration fee, commission, or charge for obtaining a loan should be paid to any person. Advances to Settlers. 5. The business of the Office is the advancing of money in New Zealand on first mortgage of lands and improvements held under the following classes of tenure, free from all encumbrances, liens, and interests other than leasehold, interests, that is to say, — (a.) (I.) Freehe)ld land in fee-simple under the Lanel Transfer Act, 1915. (2.) Freeholel land in fee-simple the title to which is registered under the Deeds Registration Act, 1908. (b.) Crown land on perpetual lease under the Land Act, 1885. (c.) Crown land Leld under Part 111 or Part IV of the Land Act, 1892, or of the Land Act. 1908. (d.) Crown land held on lease as a small grazing-run under the Land Act, 1885, or under the Land Act, 1892, or the Land Act 1908. (e.) Crown land held on agricultural lease under the Mining Act, 1891. (/.) Crown land held on lease (not being for mining purposes) under the Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administration Act, 1877. (g.) Native land held on lease under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1881, or under the West Coast Settlement Reserves Act, 1892. (h.) Lanel held on lease under the Westland and Nelson Native Reserves Act, 1887. (i.) Land held under the Thermal Springs Districts Act, 1881, or the Thermal Springs Districts Act, 1908. (j.) Educational and other reserves held under leases administered by the Land Boards. (/>:.) Orown land held by license on the deferred-payment system under Part 111 of the Land Act, 1885. (I.) Land helel under lease from a leasing authority as defined by the Public Boelies' Leasingpowers Act, 1908, or the Public Bodies' Leases Act, 1908, anel providing for the payment by the incoming tenant of valuation for improvements made upon the lanel. (m.) Land held under lease from a Maori Land Board under the Maori Land Settlement Act, 1905. (n.) Crown lands held on lease for agricultural purposes under the Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, 1894, or Part VIII of the Land Act, 1908. (o.) Crown lands held on license for residence-sites under the Mining Act, 1891, or the Mining Act, 1905. (p.) Crown lands held on lease under section 45, Part 111, of the Mining Act, 1898, and section 45, Part 111, of the Mining Act, 1908. (»/.) Maori lands which have been transferred in trust for leasing to and are held uneler leases from a Maori Land Board uneler the powers contained in the Maori Lands Aelministration Act, 1900, and its amendments. (r.) Land hold under certain classes of lease granted by a Borough Council under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, or the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900. (,?.) Land held under certain leases granted by the Wanganui River Trust. (/.) Land held under lease granted by a leasing authority as defined by the Public Bodies' Leases Act, 1908, in any case where the lease is for any term not less than fourteen years, with a recurrent right of renewal for further terms of not less than fourteen years. (m.) Crown, land or settlement land held on lease or liccn e under i e;ction 4, Discharged Soldiers Settlement Act, 1915. (v.) Crown land held on lease or license for pastoral purposes under Part VI of the Land Act, 1892, or Part VI of the Land Act, 1908. 6. Loans can be granted only on the instalment system for periotls not exceeding thirty-six and a half years : — (a.) On all. freehold, up to three-fourths of the value of the security : (b.) On leaseholds, up to three-fourths of the value of the lessee's interest in the lease. The granting of advances rests solely with the Board of the Office. Where an advance is required for the purpose of erecting a building, the amount of the loan granted by the Board may be advanced in progress-payments from time to time as the erection of the building proceeds. An inspection and report must be made by an officer of the Valuation Department prior to payment of any progress-payment on account of the loan, and for each such inspection a fee of 15s. shall be paid by the applicant. Every applicant after lodging an application for a loan should await the decision of the Board before proceeding with the erection of the building. 7. No loan of less than £25 or more than £3,500 can be grantcel. Applications for loans not exceeding £500 shall have; priority over applications for larger sums. If the applicant has already obtained any advance under this Act and is desirous of obtaining a further advance, the amount of the application, added to the amount of the advances already obtained, must not exceed £3,500. The property which the applicant offers as security for the loan must consist of one or more hoklings of the